The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-07-21
A TERRIBLE RIDE

ing party at Windy Gap farm -o-t""-
which accounted Tor my two rifle
and ammunition lyin- in the sleigh.
and for the noble deer hound, our
third companion, who had curl"d ur |
his great b b. tour feet and aided
to Keep them warm.
"nurrah :" Through tho kccn, so
norous air. sleigh and horses bound |
along "Clins-clanS - the Ginning |
bells. "Crick crack" goes the long
thunged whip. with sharp, |
cheery signiiis tnce.
Are you warm quite snug, dear
Lota p said /, half turnin; to look at
the rosy, eXQuisitiyc face pceping
forth with 50 much fur,irc cpqnrtry !
from its encadremput Of white coy
furs.
"Oh, SO comfortable she answer
ed, with nesting movement aud II
smile which made my heart leap joy
fully upward
had never ,familiarly as we had
grown, and was "horest rs tho skin
between your brows' rs she was in
fact)-I had never said Dear LOta'
before, aud the words were yet in my
oars like dear old song. loved her
with all my heart and soul, but had
never told il. yearncd to tell her So
now but thought IL scarcely fair,
not up to the marx Of my manhood
to take what seemed an unfair udvan
tage OF the protection was supposed
to extend over her. l. magnanimously
resolved to wait.
1--WE are very long, fancy" she
said, after owhil,, you have driven
there quicker than this before" oh,
heaven sho cried, with the sudden
ness OF revelation, "can We haye lost
the track ~
A cold chill seized me. looked
around the horizon, but hehcld no
friendly sign it was only II circle
gathering closer and daik krr the while.
Suddenly my brave deer hound lifted
up his head aud uttered IA low growl
The horses gave II startled swervc
Just rs suddenly. y strange lugu
brious but appalling sound cam" all
at once from windward, wailing like
death cry-a prolonged, awful groan.
Ing discor1ance-ovcr the wh tc
cleaning snow; aud then it died
away.
The horses halted trcmhinGly. On.
ly the shivering tinkle OF the bells
broke the death like silence that fell
like an eclipse over all
Again the indescribably hideous and
lugubrous sound broke forth, clearer
nearer. 1t increased it multiplied.
The horrible cresendo howling, shrek
ing and ravenius was not that OF the
wind this time.
"Oh, merciful Col (" gasped Lota,
"the wolves ~
never understood till that moment
what the concentrated essence OF lit
eral, deadly horror might mean. To
have lost the way was terrible enough
But the wolves and Lota For au
instant was numb and dumb.
As tho Internal howl rose, lingering
ly, again the horses darted away with
a shrill neigh of foar, but ! guided
misunderstanding 10 recover myself
in an opposite direction.
If my good horses had gone on SO
admirably at first, they sped of now
like arrows from tho bow, for tn,
madness of fear added wings to thei
speed, rs that OF hunger did to our
painting pursuers,
had two rifles, a revolver, ammu
milton, n spear and a wooden hatcher
in tho sleigh> / conveyed my inten.
tion to Lota.
Can you load these weapons with
those cartridges ?" asked.
Yes" was the answer, aud she
loaded them with true hunters shi'l
took one rife, looked back, the pack
was increasing. | fired and Lota
loaded; and one after another fell, I,
be dcvoured by their ravenous com.
radcs and still the horses sped on.
The aecursed things were, for AL
this, gaining ground. Doubts, fears,
hopes, trembings, were at my heart
as | turned 10 the sweet girl whose
life or death were all To me, aud said
"Lota, if we die together, remem,
ber that | love you none bat YOU
tell it to you now, il | never may
again
xiii me first" she whispered Il
hear your words echo them. You
have my heart, Richard
"Oh, Lota, best loved, what n mo
ment to confess and know not il |
feel pain or gladness most
"Vhere are no secrets between u.s.
said Lota, smilins. "Tnkc thi, rifle
give me--the pistol ono kiss-so
they come save ne from them at
any cost
Thought my ears would have split
at their dreadful yells, fer they were
now upon us, opening out to surround
u, and though the horses held brave
ly on, | dreaded every instant that
sheer terror would parnlyle them.
With lollinS tongues, eyes Of flame,
hoarse, deep growls, thoy had ceased
TO bay aud howl they were closing in
uDOu ug Tsiunrl, oI ono Iuya man